Derby Demolition: Second-Half Collapse Ends Winning Streak, Crew 2 Beats FCC 2 6-1

COLUMBUS, OHIO – FC Cincinnati 2’s (11-5-2) seven-game winless streak came to an end when the Orange and Blues were defeated 6-1 by rival Columbus Crew 2 (7-5-6) in the ‘Heck Is Plausible’ derby.

FIRST HALF

The Black and Gold opened the scoring in the 10th minute of the match with a counterattack, with midfielder Adrian Gonzalez rounding FCC 2 keeper Paul Walters and slotting the ball in to make it 1-0 to Crew 2.

As the Dutch and Blues came more and more into the game, the momentum swung in their favor in the 34th minute, when Yair Ramos Perez fired in a half-volley from far outside the penalty area. The ball passed goalkeeper Stas Lapkes at the near post to make it 1-1.

Stefan Chirila had two chances to put FCC 2 ahead towards the end of the first half. A shot from the penalty spot was deflected and a shot low at the near post was saved by Lapkes.

When the half-time whistle sounded, both teams went into the locker room with the score at 1-1.

Cincinnati outscored Columbus in the first half by 14 shots on goal to 6, including six by Crew 2 and three by Crew 2.

SECOND HALF

Jayden Da provided his second assist of the game and Crew 2 regained the lead when Da found second-half substitute Jacob Greene, who fired a shot into the top right corner of the net in the 56th minute to make it 2-1 in favor of the Black and Gold.

In the 67th minute, Guilherme Santos hit the crossbar with a shot that almost tied the score (2-2). Cincinnati started to create more and more chances.

Columbus Crew 2 had other plans, however, as they struck again in transition. This time it was substitute Chase Adams who tapped in a cross from Gibran Rayo in the 69th minute, doubling Columbus’ lead to 3-1.

Crew 2 then scored again, this time from a corner kick. Walters couldn’t reach the ball with his glove, Adams jumped on the ball at the far post to make it his two goals and make it 4-1 to the Black and Gold.

They didn’t stop there. Columbus made it 5-1 from another set piece. Cole Mrowka curled in a perfect cross that found the head of Rayo, who fired the ball into the net in the 76′.

Columbus scored a sixth goal in the 90th minute, on another corner kick. FCC 2 center back Gael Gilbert sent the ball into his own net, his second own goal in back-to-back games. That made it 6-1 Crew 2.

GAME REVIEW

You never want to lose a game, especially a rivalry game, and especially not the way FCC 2 did against Crew 2.

What might be lost is that FCC 2 was the better side in the first half, at least for most of it. After tying the game, the Oranje-Blauwen had several chances to score their second goal and take the lead. But that didn’t happen.

What is worrying is the performance in the second half, where five unanswered goals were allowed, three of which were corner kicks. Columbus was more intense and was the first to keep an eye on everything in the second half. The energy of FCC 2 that we are so used to seeing was almost evaporated in the second 45 minutes by the Columbus midfield. We have not seen this since last season.

The final stats from the game showed Cincinnati beating Columbus 20-13, but Crew 2 had eight shots on goal to FCC 2’s six.

Head coach Tyrone Marshall and FC Cincinnati 2 will try to forget this game, reset and refocus for next week’s homecoming against Chicago Fire FC II. This was the team’s first loss in seven games, since May 26 at home to Miami.

The Orange and Blue are still in a good position in the Eastern Conference, sitting in second place with 35 points. Next week is number two versus number three in the East, a big game for FCC 2.

COLUMBUS CREW 2 LINEUP

(3-4-3)

GK: Stanislav Lapkes

D: Christopher Rogers, Christopher Pearson, Owen Presthus

M: Tristan Brown (Terron Williams 72′), Adrian Gonzalez (Jacob Greene 46′), Giorgio DeLibera (Nicolas Jacobo 72′), Brent Adu-Gyamfi (Xavier Zengue 81′)

Q: Cole Mrowka, Jayden Da (Chase Adams 59′), Gibran Rayo

FC CINCINNATI 2 LINEUP

(3-5-2)

General: Paul Walters

D: Isaiah Foster, London Aghedo, Gael Gilbert

M: Moises Tablante (Will Kuisel 82′), Yair Ramos Perez (Peter Mangione 72′), Kenji Mboma Dem (Ben Stitz 72′), Nico Benalcazar, Amir Daley (Jesus Castellano 72′)

F: Stefan Chirila, Guilhereme Santos (Yeiner Valoyes 82′)